Toronto, Canada — A Toronto resident, previously charged with planning a serious terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, now faces additional accusations of committing war crimes, authorities reported. Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 27, are implicated in an alleged plot against the city, adding a complex layer to an ongoing legal battle.
The elder Eldidi, accused alongside his son, was due in a Newmarket, Ontario, court Monday. However, developments revealed that he would face re-arrest later in the day for international offenses committed prior to gaining Canadian citizenship. Both men have remained in custody since their arrest in July pending further court proceedings.
Canadian federal police have disclosed that Ahmed Eldidi is charged with war crimes conducted against protected persons in a non-international armed conflict from November 2014 to June 2015. This indictment illustrates the international scope of the investigation, stemming from actions that occurred before Eldidi immigrated to Canada in 2018, where he was later naturalized in May of this year.
The specific charges against the senior Eldidi relate to grievous acts of violence purportedly documented in an ISIS propaganda video released in June 2015, which depicts a brutal scene involving a sword and a victim garbed in an orange jumpsuit. These allegations surfaced as investigators unraveled the extent of the Eldidis’ plans for violence within Canada.
Mostafa Eldidi, who arrived in Canada in 2020 and received refugee status two years later, does not share his father’s Canadian citizenship status. Both father and son are charged with conspiracy to commit murder among other accusations linked to their support for ISIS.
The alarming nature of their plot was highlighted by Conservative MP Larry Brock, who indicated at a House of Commons committee meeting in August that the planned attack was imminent and posed a significant threat to the Toronto Jewish community. Brock emphasized the urgency of the threat but has since refrained from further public comment.
Legal representatives for the Eldidis maintain their clients’ innocence and express readiness to contest the charges in court. Ahmed Eldidi’s lawyer, Kabir Sharma, described the case as “complex and multi-layered,” affirming his client’s resolve to prove his innocence. Similarly, Nate Jackson, representing Mostafa Eldidi, has stated intentions to “vigorously” defend his client.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about domestic security and the challenges posed by individuals who participate in foreign conflicts before seeking refuge in other nations. It also raises significant questions about the processes of granting refugee status and citizenship, amidst fears of extremist activities spilling over into Canada.
As legal proceedings continue, the community and authorities remain vigilant, awaiting further details from what promises to be a protracted and revealing trial.